Preview Roundups
July 20, 2014
Cincinnati at NY Yankees 1:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees have struggled in many areas this season, but their strong performance in interleague play has kept them afloat in the American League East. The Yankees vie for their majors-best 13th win over a National League club on Sunday afternoon when they attempt to complete a three-game series sweep of the visiting Cincinnati Reds.
Texas at Toronto 1:07 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays' Mark Buehrle needed only 12 outings to become the first pitcher in the majors to reach 10 wins in 2014, but victory No. 11 has proven to be far more elusive. The five-time All-Star looks to halt a seven-start winless streak on Sunday as the Blue Jays attempt to take the rubber match of their three-game home series with the Texas Rangers.
Cleveland at Detroit 1:08 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians are having their way with Detroit and will go for a four-game sweep when they visit the Tigers for the finale on Sunday. The Indians took both ends of a doubleheader on Saturday after putting on a power display in Friday’s opener and are getting plenty of help up and down the lineup as they stalk Detroit in the American League Central. The Tigers have dropped four straight going back to before the All-Star break.
San Francisco at Miami 1:10 PM ET
Tim Lincecum regained his top form the last month and looks to extend his winning streak to five starts when the visiting San Francisco Giants go for a three-game sweep over the slumping Miami Marlins on Sunday. The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner can match the amount of victories (10) he produced in each of the previous two seasons. The Giants have won three straight for the first time in more than a month and moved back into first place in the NL West with Saturday's 5-3 victory
Kansas City at Boston 1:35 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox are quietly turning things around as they try to convince management to go for it again this season. The Red Sox will attempt to complete a three-game sweep when they host the Kansas City Royals in the finale of a three-game series on Sunday. The Royals are moving the opposite direction with five losses in six games and fell to .500 at 48-48 with a 2-1 setback on Saturday.
Philadelphia at Atlanta 1:35 PM ET
Rookie Tommy La Stella has provided stability for Atlanta at second base in his first two months in the major leagues. The Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series and La Stella, who has hit safely in 10 of his past 12 games, leads all National League rookies with a .292 batting average. Philadelphia posted a 2-1 victory on Saturday as Grady Sizemore finished 3-for-4, raising his average to .400 in five games with his new club.
Colorado at Pittsburgh 1:35 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates, who are no strangers to close games, try for a three-game sweep when they host the struggling Colorado Rockies on Sunday. Pittsburgh prevailed 3-2 in 11 innings on Saturday and is 23-17 in one-run contests - 16-8 at home - with the wins and games leading the major leagues. More importantly, the Pirates are tied with Cincinnati - 2 1/2 games behind co-leaders Milwaukee and St. Louis in the National League Central - after improving to 11-2 in their last 13 at home.
Milwaukee at Washington 1:35 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers have had at least a share of first place in the National League Central every day since April 5, but that could change after Sunday’s series finale against the host Washington Nationals. The Brewers head into the rubber match of the three-game set tied with St. Louis for the division lead, and they’re hoping for a strong outing from Yovani Gallardo after Matt Garza recorded just one out in Saturday’s 8-3 loss.
Houston at Chi. White Sox 2:10 PM ET
The Chicago White Sox attempt to complete a sweep when they host the Houston Astros in the finale of their three-game series Sunday. Chicago has inched within four games of .500 at 47-51 thanks to a pair of one-run victories over Houston. Tyler Flowers was the hero for the White Sox in both triumphs, delivering a tiebreaking RBI double in the seventh inning Friday and another in the fifth the following night.
Tampa Bay at Minnesota 2:10 PM ET
James Loney and the Tampa Bay Rays look to continue their respective hot hands on Sunday in the series finale against the host Minnesota Twins. Loney collected three hits in Friday's 6-2 triumph and added two more in Saturday's 5-1 win. The 30-year-old is 21-for-63 (.333) in 15 career meetings versus the Twins, but only 8-for-34 (.235) lifetime versus Sunday starter Kevin Correia.
Seattle at LA Angels 3:35 PM ET
Relief pitchers figure to be in short supply Sunday when the Los Angeles Angels face the visiting Seattle Mariners in the rubber match of a three-game series. Seattle snapped the Angels’ six-game winning streak with Saturday’s 3-2, 12-inning victory, and the teams played 28 innings in the first two games of the series. Mariners center fielder James Jones has provided the team with a spark at the lead-off spot and brings a nine-game hitting streak into the series finale.
Baltimore at Oakland 4:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles did not let a walk-off loss get them down and, as a result, are in position to win a series in Oakland when they meet the Athletics on Sunday in the rubber match of the three-game set. Baltimore won 8-4 on Saturday - one night after Oakland prevailed 5-4 in walk-off fashion - to maintain its four-game cushion over Toronto and the New York Yankees in the American League East, while the Athletics' lead over Los Angeles in the AL West remained at 1 1/2 games.
Chi. Cubs at Arizona 4:10 PM ET
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson told reporters prior to the start of his team’s series against the Chicago Cubs that he hoped his team would “get back after it” following a dismal first-half showing. Following a pair of post-All-Star break comeback victories, the Diamondbacks eye their first three-game home sweep of the season Sunday against the Cubs. Arizona entered the break with a National League-worst 40-56 mark – the team’s worst first half since going 34-55 in 2010.
NY Mets at San Diego 4:10 PM ET
The New York Mets look to win their fourth straight series when they visit the San Diego Padres for the rubber match of their three-game set Sunday. New York went 8-2 on its 10-game homestand prior to the All-Star break and kicked off the second half of the season with a triumph in the series opener Friday. The Mets' four-game winning streak came to a screeching halt Saturday, however, as they managed only five hits in a 6-0 setback.
LA Dodgers at St. Louis 8:05 PM ET
Clayton Kershaw looks to keep alive an outstanding personal run when he leads the Los Angeles Dodgers into the finale of a three-game series at St. Louis on Sunday night. Before throwing one perfect inning in the All-Star Game in Minneapolis, Kershaw posted his second complete game of the year with an 11-strikeout effort against San Diego on July 10. His scoreless streak was halted at 41 innings in the process but he still won his eighth straight start, all in dominant fashion.